Quote Originally Posted by Master View Post
He was good but not great, Pele, Maradona, George Best, Zidane, Platini, Baggio were quality attacking players.
Go wash your mouth out with soap!

Beckenbauer was DEFINITELY great. I think the OP might be making the point that when you weigh up abilities both offensively & defensively into the equation, then Beckenbauer might be the 'best' player ever.

I think you have to divide these things though.

Anyway as you & H say, I'd have to go with Maradona as best ever. Compare his performances with Argentina with Messi's (truly awful so far in the Copa America) & then think that as good as Messi is doing with Barcelona, he has at least two other ATGs in his team (Xavi & Iniesta) helping him out. Meanwhile, as H said, Maradona took Napoli to two Serie A titles in what was arguably the most competitive era of any domestic league in history. The only other world-class player on that team at the time was Careca. Then look at who the other sides had:

Inter - Klinnsmann, Matthaus, Brehme, Bergomi, Zenga

Juventus - Platini, Michael Laudrup, Boniek, Scirea, Cabrini

Sampdoria - Vialli, Mancini, Toninho Cerezo, Lombardo, Pagliuca

Roma - Peruzzi, Voller, Giannini, Conti, Berthold

Milan (arguably best club side of all time) - Van Basten, Gullit, Maldini, Rijkaard, Donadoni, Baresi, Costacurta.

To twice win leagues against sides like that really is something particularly when you are almost a one man team.